LAS VEGAS — After wowing the gang at T-Mobile Arena, scoring 23 issues in 17 mins within the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-115 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns, LeBron James stored his largest play for the postgame information convention Wednesday night time.
Asked in regards to the NBA internet hosting the exhibition recreation in Las Vegas, James used the instance to make a private plea to commissioner Adam Silver, angling to be first in line to personal the crew if the league ever expands to Sin City.
“I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing. I know Adam is in Abu Dhabi right now, I believe,” James stated, alluding to the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks’ preseason commute to the United Arab Emirates that Silver is attending. “But he probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes through from NBA players.
“So, I would like the crew right here, Adam. Thank you.”
Wednesday was not the first time James has expressed interest in owning a team in Las Vegas, but this certainly was his most direct declaration.
In June, on an episode of his YouTube show “The Shop: Uninterrupted,” James first revealed his goal.
“I desire a crew in Vegas,” said James, who is already a part owner of Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox. “I would like the crew in Vegas.”
Silver was asked during his annual NBA Finals news conference about the league expanding beyond 30 teams and said there are no immediate plans to do so.
“We aren’t discussing that right now,” Silver said. “As I stated ahead of, in the future, this league invariably will amplify, however it isn’t at this second that we’re discussing it.”
However, when asked specifically about Seattle and Las Vegas as potential expansion locations, Silver endorsed both cities.
“Those are superb markets,” Silver said. “We had been in Seattle. I’m sorry we’re now not there. We have a WNBA crew in Seattle in a nearly brand-new construction that is doing impressive. And Las Vegas, the place we can be at our summer time league in July, has proven itself to be a perfect sports activities marketplace as neatly.”
The LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers played a preseason game in Seattle this week.
James laid it on thick, saying Las Vegas has “the most productive fan base on this planet” and winking as he said it, clearly aware that his statement would generate some buzz.
James, who is 37 and entering his 20th NBA season, would need to be finished playing to own a team. He also would need to link up with an ownership group to purchase a team, despite having a net worth north of $1 billion, according to Forbes.
The most recent NBA team to go on the market, the Minnesota Timberwolves, sold for $1.5 billion in 2021. The Brooklyn Nets sold for an NBA-record $2.35 billion in 2019. The Suns are expected to set the record, according to a report from ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, as current owner Robert Sarver fields offers after committing to part with the franchise in the fallout from the league suspending him for a year and fining him $10 million after a nearly yearlong investigation into his workplace conduct.
James is under contract with the Lakers through the 2024-25 season.
“I feel it is a nice town. The herbal natural power that is right here constructed into the town, it is going hand in hand with the extent of sports activities which were regarded as to be positioned right here,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Las Vegas. “It’s a no brainer. Down the street. I do not want to discuss for the NBA or the commissioner, however I feel in the future you’ll be able to see an enduring NBA crew right here calling Las Vegas house.”